[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6060. Mr. SCOTT of Florida submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and
Mr. Inhofe) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title VII, add the following:
SEC. 753. INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE ON PREVENTABLE DEATHS
AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--There is established within the Department
of Defense an independent review committee (in this section
referred to as the ``Committee'') to review recent deaths
among members of the Armed Forces at military installations
in the United States.
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall select
members of the Committee from among individuals who have
experience in the Armed Forces (whether on active duty, in
the reserve components, or at a military service academy) and
are not currently employed by the Federal Government.
(2) Expertise.--In selecting members of the Committee under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that each such
member has a background in law enforcement, military or
criminal investigations, or military or criminal legal
proceedings.
(c) Duties.--
(1) Review.--The Committee shall carry out a review of
whether the relevant commands and units at military
installations in the United States were operating within the
spirit of applicable policies of the Department of Defense
and the applicable military department for post-traumatic
stress disorder, suicides, substance use disorders, and
investigations of deaths, with a focus on overdose deaths and
fentanyl.
(2) Elements.--The review carried out under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of the staffing level, training,
education, and ability of leaders at all levels to receive
and respond to substance use disorder, post-traumatic stress
disorder, suicide, and death at military installations in the
United States.
(B) An assessment of the climate and culture regarding
self-reporting for members of the Armed Forces at military
installations in the United States to determine stigmas and
ways to avoid those stigmas to ensure such members get the
care they need without fear of negative impact on their
career.
(C) An assessment of the impact of substance use on the
readiness of such members at military installations in the
United States.
(D) An assessment of whether or not proper execution of the
requirements under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code
(the Uniform Code of Military Justice), has been carried out
in cases involved substance abuse and potential drug related
deaths.
(d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to the
Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services of
the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the
findings of the Committee.
(e) Military Service Academy Defined.--In this section, the
term ``military service academy'' means the following:
(1) The United States Military Academy, West Point, New
York.
(2) The United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
(3) The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
(4) The United States Coast Guard Academy, New London,
Connecticut.
(5) The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point,
New York.
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